For 20 years, Common Ground Consulting LLC has been providing world-class consulting services for community based, national, and international nonprofit/NGO (social profit) organizations. As a leading social sector futurist, Common Ground's President, Craig A. Bowman, has spent his career developing a philosophy of leadership that harnesses passion and trust as a bridge between human potential and social responsibility. Please click above to read case studies about our work. More Check out our 3 latest slideshows: Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Bolivia! View hundreds of photos from our seven country Asian Adventure.

UNCOVERING & DISCOVERING OUR PASSIONS, HOPES, & DREAMS

If we had to choose just one word to explain and connect all of our work at Common Ground Consulting, without question that word would be passion. Passion fuels our work. It sparks our dreams. It gives us hope and fires our imaginations. Passion is the key to unlocking an unending supply of energy, creativity, courage and desire. It makes it possible for each of us to achieve more than we ever believed was possible. Passion represents our common humanity.More

STRENGTHENING CIVIC SOCIETY IN EMERGING DEMOCRACIES

Over the past several years, Common Ground has been expanding its international portfolio, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Awed by the passion, courage, and indomitable spirits of people struggling to improve their worlds, we've embarked upon several projects at the heart of powerful civil society change efforts. In countries like Macedonia, where democracy is still largely an untested and insecure proposition, it is critical to support the emerging leadership of their non-governmental (social sector) organizations.More

EXAMINING MODEL PROGRAMS TO ENSURE EFFICIENCY & MANAGE EXPANSION

One of the hallmarks of our work at Common Ground Consulting is our experience and reputation when it comes to managing change. As is true with any change process, there can often be conflict between those who are comfortable with the status quo and those who seek to embrace new opportunities or shift existing paradigms. We manage our work in a way that honors and builds upon history and the sense of mutual respect that must exist for each way of thinking. We work hard to ensure open communication and thorough analysis through our role as an "honest broker."More

MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO STAND UP, SPEAK OUT, & MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Over the past 19 years, our government and our sector have finally begun to recognize the valuable contributions that young people can make in our communities when they are afforded access and opportunity; though we are still not fully leveraging the creativity, energy, wisdom, and passion of young people. Too often instead, we focus on what we (as adults) can do for them, forgetting that young people can also be a critical part of the solution. At Common Ground, we view young people as assets, not just needs; and are committed to creating spaces and places where the ideas and values of young people are explored, celebrated, and incorporated into our efforts to solve pressing community problems.More

Since 2004, Common Ground has been working in Serbia on a project aimed at bringing together the world's best and brightest young HIV peer educators. But for many young people living in the war-torn Balkans, peer education is about more than HIV prevention. It is about giving young people hope and a reason to see value in their own lives. It means applauding their courage, supporting their visions, and reminding them of the many reasons they have to stay healthy and safe. Our work there is quite simply about creating spaces for young people to experience a reason for living-a reason to fight for their lives.More

LEVERAGING "CHOICE ARCHITECTURE" AND SOCIAL NETWORKS TO HELP SOCIALPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS CREATE POWERFUL AND LASTING CHANGE

At Common Ground we help our clients harness the power of emerging social networks; challenge status quo change strategies; leverage organizational charisma; create culture to support mission-critical goals; and actively build high-trust relationships. Our recent work has created high-impact campaigns which include state-of-the-art web portals. In each case, our goal was to create simple, effective strategies that provide stakeholders and constituents with the tools they need to develop their own micro-movements--small, but scalable, individual efforts to affect change in one's own life, a particular neighborhood, or within a defined community.More